Everybody has a place: THE OLD MAN’S DILEMMA

Christopher Osunbote

“Everybody has a place.”
“Err… everybody has a place!”
“Hmm……….. everyone has… uh… place!”

How am I supposed to tell my little boy this in a language he will understand.
The little kid is no philosopher, but it shouldn’t be hard tell him that: “We are all different beings here on this planet and we affect this planet –both other humans and the natural environment –by the things we do. From simple things like the way we use water in the house, to how we raise our children or govern an establishment or country. The things we do, whether we want them to affect the world or not, often inevitably end up affecting the world in very little (nonetheless significant) or more popular ways.” 
The poor lad is not a psychologist, but can’t I easily remind him of the fact that: “The way we two act are different even though we are family. We approach issues differently, and because my ways are not always right nor my views always complete.” His inputs into issues have often helped even when I didn’t admit that to him. I think I have made him think he is not half as smart as I am. I haven’t made him realize the beauty of this fact –that we two are different and it’s not an issue of different LEVELS of intelligence, but more of different DIRECTIONS. 
So, I guess I can’t easily make him see this. I wonder if his fiancé has been doing right by him in making him realize how important he is to her. That she couldn’t have two men exactly like him; and that he suits her just fine. They have been together for a while now, and I am hoping she has seen enough of other guys to know that –in love, my son has a sure place. 
Ha! Land at last! He is a Christian. That should do it. I will simply tell him that: “God has made a particular purpose for his being on earth. This purpose ends in something meaningful. This is not just about the fact that we are different, but we use this to a good end. Well, at least a not-harmful end. 

The Creator loves all his creations and doesn’t plan chaos or a misfit. He has been smart and kind enough to assign something very sensible to ALL of them!” “We can’t all take the spotlight. But we can all contribute to making the whole performance an experience for all. And if it makes you feel any better, many of the actors who act under the spotlight never get to really watch themselves in that moment and enjoy the act/life from the perspective of the audience. None fills and feels all!” 
I hope my son will not ask me why I am telling him all this at this time and what even brought it to my mind in the first place.
Ah! That word again. PLACE.

Christopher Osunbote is a friend and big brother.
He is one of my mentors in the blogosphere and he writes on all things spiritual.
Check out his blog: www.ifeelshadows.com

Everybody has a place: BARROW

Anosime Imhoitsike

“I don’t have a job, but all I can do now is push this wheel barrow” … sounds familiar? No? I was in traffic in a keke, when I saw a guy pushing something that didn’t look like the conventional wheelbarrow but a rusty makeshift one, obviously made from an old bath tub, two car tyres and a few planks; that would induce a chuckle, pity, wonder or even a story like it did me.

No two genetic material are ever the same, every single person is unique. Every day we breathe, we eat, we tweet (that is, if you are into that), we exist but imagine if we did them exactly the same way every day; I certainly wouldn’t like it, especially the eating part. You have been specifically destined to play each part in the race differently. Your talent might be ‘odd’ and crude; there is room for them to be creatively or academically honed. 
By all means push your place:
• Identify your part: Seek and you shall find.
• Be content with your gift: no matter how small or odd it may seem, use it even if it is currently not ‘marketable’. Create a market for it
• Design a make shift tool: if it isn’t available, by all means design it. Even it involves an old bath tub. The whole crudeness of the piece of art in the midst of all the posh and not-so-posh cars made me see life in a different way.

Here I was sitting in traffic in the keke with this piece of art, left and by my right is a cute car, in front of me is a soon-to- retire (commercial bus) danfo and a bike. All kinds of automobiles on the same road, obeying the same traffic light, under the same weather; yet not having the same destination. So, even if life tells you “Sharrap! Carry that unpolished, sorry thing you call a talent away”. Just package yourself and wait for the red light to disappear and when the green light says “GO”, Sweetie! PUSH ‘em barrow real hard. You know why? If you don’t push your place, who will?


Anosime Imhoitsike is a Chemist and Writer. Aspiring novelist and Playwright. Fair weather football fan so you know she seldom supports Arsenal. Some say she is hilarious, she doesn't know why. God lover and calls the Holy Spirit her bestie.

Everybody has a Place: Too Young to Lead?

FAITH ABIODUN

I was five years old when I became class captain in primary school, and I held that position for three years, and repeated it again in secondary school at the age of 11.I had the honour of conducting a church choir at the age of seven, and became Children Pastor in my church at the age of nine (my mum helped prepare the sermons). 

I was twelve years old when I was employed for the first time; I worked as an apprentice in a photography studio for four months. Throughout the period of my apprenticeship, I lived all alone in a big house with my parent visiting on weekends. I woke up early in the morning, fixed my breakfast, took the taxi to work before 8am and retired home at about 7pm with a light dinner before sleep. I felt normal, but every time I tell people about that period, they ask me “didn’t you feel you were too young?” Too young for what, I wonder.

All my life, the one question that has dogged me has been “how old are you?” I will do anything I can to shake it off my back, but it never seems to leave me alone. When I got my second job and earned my first salary as a business centre operator at the age of 15, everyone still thought I was too young.

My undergraduate adventures did nothing to eradicate the question of my age; I was admitted to university at 16, became Editor-in-Chief of a 2000-member Union of Campus Journalists before my 18^th birthday, interviewed Professor Wole Soyinka and numerous other Nigerian celebrities before my 19^th birthday, and was lead speaker for the university’s debate team before my 20^th birthday. Oh, by the way, I also founded a youth development NGO just after turning 20. I thought all those things were fine, except that people kept on telling me I was too young to be so involved in building my own life. For Christ’s sake, when was I supposed to start?

When I started my Master’s degree in the USA, I was the youngest member of my class, and then I went on to serve as President of a multicultural organization, where again everyone was older than I was. I joined Toastmasters International, and I was clearly the youngest member of the group, but that didn’t stop me from taking leadership roles and serving as a mentor for a new member who was almost twice my age. Whenever I told Americans about my organization back home, they marvelled at how such a young person could have done such great things. Again, I wondered why everyone was so surprised about my age.

I’m approaching my 25^th birthday, and I know that the question about my age will never leave me. I feel like I’ve been in the workforce for about 10 years, but I still feel very uneasy about the many things I haven’t learned, and opportunities I haven’t seized. I look at other young people who are making tremendous progress alongside me and I wonder why anyone will question our abilities to lead simply because we’re not grey.

Age should never be a determinant of a person’s leadership capacity; as soon as a person's mind can conceive of an idea, and they buckle up to implement it, they are ready for leadership. 

 

 ''In leadership, irrespective of age, everybody has a place''

About the author: Faith Abiodun is a very dear friend whose life has inspired me many times over. He is an entrepreneur, project manager, journalist, humanitarian, writer and an outstanding public speaker. He is the founder and president of The F.A.I.T.H. Initiative, a nonprofit youth development organization based in Nigeria.
Follow him on: twitter.com/FaithAbiodun & faithabiodun.com

Photo Credit: www.wvi.org via google images